BascoVanVeli:


If u are not taking his words as gospel why are u so quick to tell me I should forget everything I saw with my own eyes and focus on the fact that Rohr said Kelechi was poor? U don't even have any clear reasons why you feel the boy was poor just that he was substituted.

jihday:
I'll rather you replace the yak with Aghaowa tho by 2004 he was already fading but he had a greater impact during his 2-3yrs reign. then balogun should be replaced with oboabona that guy was solid at afcon 2013, balogun has hardly played for us, I can count his caps with my fingers. my own take

Icon4s:
4 Generations of the Green Eagles/Super Eagles from the 1980s to present.

This write up is aimed at selecting the best 11 from each of the generations of Eagles.

I have grouped the 4 generations into 4 different decades: 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s(present)

Taking our minds down Memory Lane a bit, some may have to cast our minds farther than others. But which ever generation you belong your team will be captured.

With the emergence of Enugu Rangers and IICC as formidable forces in the mid to late 70s both in Nigeria and Africa, Nigeria was able to produce a formidable team that finished 3rd at the 1978 AFCON and ended up with a crescendo by winning the 1980 AFCON (then called the African Cup of Unity). That was the birth of Nigeria's dominance of football in Africa.

From 1980 to 1989 this is my first 11:

Peter Rufai
Bright Omokaro
Christian Chukwu
Stephen Keshi
Yisa Shofoluwe
Muda Lawal
Henry Nwosu
Samuel Okwaraji
Segun Odegbami
Adokiye Amiesimaka
Rashidi Yekini

With the Green Eagles of Algiers 90 nations cup came a new era of Nigerian football. Some of the players in the team of the 80s had become the senior players of the team. This era saw us dominate football in Africa and at a time ranked 5th in the world, highest for any African team ever. Also winning the AFCON in 1994.

My first 11 from the 1990 to 1999:

Peter Rufai
Ben Iroha
Uche Okechukwu
Stephen Keshi
Augustine Eguavoen
Sunday Oliseh
Austin Okocha
Emmanuel Amuneke
Finidi George
Daniel Amokachi
Rashidi Yekini

With Nigeria producing so many quality youth players in the 1990s both at the U17 and U20. Including winning the Olympics in 1996 and a q/final showing in 2000. A new generation of Eagles emerged. Some others joined from the 2003 U17 and 2005 U20. Some of the players from the 90s had become senior players in the team.

My first 11 for 2000 to 2009:

Vincent Enyeama
Taye Taiwo
Joseph Yobo
Taribo West
Chidi Odiah
Garba Lawal
Austin Okocha
Osaze Odemwingie
Tijani Babangida
Nwankwo Kanu
Yakubu Ayegbeni

The 2010 WC saw the end of a good number of the players of the 2000s. Some retired even before then.
The super eagles would had to depend mostly on the players who featured at the 2003 U17, 2005 U20, 2007 U20, 2008 U23 and 2009 U17 to carry the team further. This culminated in the team wining the AFCON in 2013. Nigeria continued to turn out quality youth players from the 2011 U20, 2013 U20, 2013 U17, 2015 U20 and 2015 U17.

My first 11 from 2010 to date:

Vincent Enyeama
Elderson Echiejile
Kenneth Omeruo
Leon Balogun
Efe Ambrose
Ogenyi Onazi
John Obi Mikel
Victor Moses
Ahmed Musa
Kelechi Iheanacho
Emmanuel Emenike

These are strictly my opinion. You are free to criticize or agree on any generation. Who is on my side on this one?

cc: enomakos, Kog45, komekn, forgiveness, TheGoodjoe, Michael2, Goldfish80, tbaba1234, Joseph1013, petrobros, Bascovanveli, safarigirl, TheSuperNerd, Joebie, chrisoblog, loogan, do4luv14, icon79 etc.

BascoVanVeli:


What does not qualifying for AFCON have to do with Nacho. We are talking about a nonexistent midfield that got ran over by a white boy from supersports united and u are here blaming your striker.

If u don't want to be truthful we can end this right now. This whole started with u saying u would rather have Etebo play SS instead of Iheanacho, so what's all this about u being ok with Nacho play SS in the next match?

goldfish80:


Rohr's belief that Kelechi had a poor game was evident with his early substitution .
Kelechi admitted he had a poor game
,
The South African coach Baxter said the Nigerian attack was blunt
,
Some Nigerian reporters questioned why Kelechi was left on the pitch, they believed he should have been subbed earlier,
With my very own eyes, I saw that Kelechi was very poor on the day.

You skipped all these points and went to town screaming I'm taking Rohr's word as gospel.

goldfish80:


I don't believe that our midfield was over ran. Before South Africa scored,they barely found a way out of their own half. Our midfield dominated so much that the commentators were happy that South Africa held us to a goalless draw at half time.
When the team went a goal down,they panicked and lost shape probably due to inexperience. Let's get our facts right.

Yes, I still maintain that Etebo could be deployed as a false 9. He started out at Warri wolves as a striker and last season in some Fierence games I followed he played as a striker in the later stages of the league.
What he lacks in height, he certainly packs in good measure with strenght and intensity which can take out the Camerounians. Why are you guys afraid of having Kelechi play as a second striker? Is there something I'm not getting?

TheSuperNerd:




Onyekuru joins Anderlecht training
by George Akpayen


Henry Onyekuru has joined up with his new club RSC Anderlecht for their pre-season training camp in Austria.

The 20-year-old forward completed a move to Everton for a transfer fee of £7 million and the English club have subsequently farmed out the Nigerian on loan to the Belgian champions for the rest of the season.

The former Aspire Academy apprentice arrived to link up with his new teammates and straight away was handed jersey No 9 for the season.





The Toffees, who beat the like of Arsenal and West Ham United for the signature of Onyekuru, had to send out the forward on loan for the rest of the season on the advice of their manager Ronald Koeman.

Koeman feels one more season in the Belgian top division with Anderlecht will help the development of the youngster and also afford him the chance to play in the Caf Champions League next season.

Onyekuru is now expected to be a central figure at Anderlecht for the coming season after netting 24 goals for KAS Eupen last term.






Source: https://www.supersport.com/football/nigeria/news/170704/Onyekuru_links_up_with_new_club_in_Austria

Icon4s:
4 Generations of the Green Eagles/Super Eagles from the 1980s to present.

This write up is aimed at selecting the best 11 from each of the generations of Eagles.

I have grouped the 4 generations into 4 different decades: 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s(present)

Taking our minds down Memory Lane a bit, some may have to cast our minds farther than others. But which ever generation you belong your team will be captured.

With the emergence of Enugu Rangers and IICC as formidable forces in the mid to late 70s both in Nigeria and Africa, Nigeria was able to produce a formidable team that finished 3rd at the 1978 AFCON and ended up with a crescendo by winning the 1980 AFCON (then called the African Cup of Unity). That was the birth of Nigeria's dominance of football in Africa.

From 1980 to 1989 this is my first 11:

Peter Rufai
Bright Omokaro
Christian Chukwu
Stephen Keshi
Yisa Shofoluwe
Muda Lawal
Henry Nwosu
Samuel Okwaraji
Segun Odegbami
Adokiye Amiesimaka
Rashidi Yekini

With the Green Eagles of Algiers 90 nations cup came a new era of Nigerian football. Some of the players in the team of the 80s had become the senior players of the team. This era saw us dominate football in Africa and at a time ranked 5th in the world, highest for any African team ever. Also winning the AFCON in 1994.

My first 11 from the 1990 to 1999:

Peter Rufai
Ben Iroha
Uche Okechukwu
Stephen Keshi
Augustine Eguavoen
Sunday Oliseh
Austin Okocha
Emmanuel Amuneke
Finidi George
Daniel Amokachi
Rashidi Yekini

With Nigeria producing so many quality youth players in the 1990s both at the U17 and U20. Including winning the Olympics in 1996 and a q/final showing in 2000. A new generation of Eagles emerged. Some others joined from the 2003 U17 and 2005 U20. Some of the players from the 90s had become senior players in the team.

My first 11 for 2000 to 2009:

Vincent Enyeama
Taye Taiwo
Joseph Yobo
Taribo West
Chidi Odiah
Garba Lawal
Austin Okocha
Osaze Odemwingie
Tijani Babangida
Nwankwo Kanu
Yakubu Ayegbeni

The 2010 WC saw the end of a good number of the players of the 2000s. Some retired even before then.
The super eagles would had to depend mostly on the players who featured at the 2003 U17, 2005 U20, 2007 U20, 2008 U23 and 2009 U17 to carry the team further. This culminated in the team wining the AFCON in 2013. Nigeria continued to turn out quality youth players from the 2011 U20, 2013 U20, 2013 U17, 2015 U20 and 2015 U17.

My first 11 from 2010 to date:

Vincent Enyeama
Elderson Echiejile
Kenneth Omeruo
Leon Balogun
Efe Ambrose
Ogenyi Onazi
John Obi Mikel
Victor Moses
Ahmed Musa
Kelechi Iheanacho
Emmanuel Emenike

These are strictly my opinion. You are free to criticize or agree on any generation. Who is on my side on this one?

cc: enomakos, Kog45, komekn, forgiveness, TheGoodjoe, Michael2, Goldfish80, tbaba1234, Joseph1013, petrobros, Bascovanveli, safarigirl, TheSuperNerd, Joebie, chrisoblog, loogan, do4luv14, icon79 etc.

TheGoodJoe:


Can someone confirm if Henry will wear the nine shirt for Anderlecht? That is an interesting development.

TheGoodJoe:


No one is scared of Kelechi playing as a second striker. I wonder where you got that from. Kelechi has played as a second striker for Rohr. So no one is scared. Our problem is that we do not have lethal forwards. Even the Etebo you are screaming for missed a golden opportunity to give us the lead when Iheanacho gave him a brilliant chance.

That is why Iheanacho leads the line because he is our most lethal striker now.

How come everyone gets this but you.

goldfish80:

I agree he is the most lethal forward we have now but scoring is just one part of his game. Other aspects of his game which is vital to the formation the team plays is lacking.
That is the reason it makes sense playing him as a second striker and get someone to complement his obvious weakness which is ariel dominance and power play like we saw against Zambia when paired with Ideye.
You're just being deliberately myopic by tagging me a hater.

goldfish80:

(80/89)
I will replace Rufai with Emma Okala from the first team.

(90/99)
The second team basically selects itself. No addition really

(99/10)
I will replace Babangida with Aghahowa and Yakubu with Obafemi Martins (tough one)

(2011 to date)
I will swap Leon Balogun with Oboabona and Kelechi with Ikechukwu Uche.
*before they call me hater and plunge me into an unnecessary arguement. I don't think it will be right rating players with less than 10 caps and no tournament experience for the senior national team ahead of those with 40+ caps and tournament experience.

Icon4s:


If I may understand what you are thinking, IE he being offered the CF role. He may not necessarily be offered that role even though he wears the 9 jersey. But I would he very delighted if this boy can be modeled into a CF just like what Wenger did to his model Igwe Henry.

Icon4s:


If I may understand what you are thinking, IE he being offered the CF role. He may not necessarily be offered that role even though he wears the 9 jersey. But I would he very delighted if this boy can be modeled into a CF just like what Wenger did to his model Igwe Henry.

TheGoodJoe:


That is like saying City should not play Aguero upfront because we need aerial dominance or Barcelona should not play Suarez upfront because we need aerial dominance.

The point has not changed. Aerial dominance was not the problem against South Africa. Service was the problem.

TheGoodJoe:


If Osimhen breaks through this season as I expect and Onyekuru flourishes in Belgium, then we will have a formidable fire power attack force.

Iheanacho, Osimhen, Kayode and Henry.

I am also expecting a bang from Success. I hope he can put his injuries behind him and Victor Moses is also a dynamite forward.

goldfish80:

(80/89)
I will replace Rufai with Emma Okala from the first team.

(90/99)
The second team basically selects itself. No addition really

(99/10)
I will replace Babangida with Aghahowa and Yakubu with Obafemi Martins (tough one)

(2011 to date)
I will swap Leon Balogun with Oboabona and Kelechi with Ikechukwu Uche.
*before they call me hater and plunge me into an unnecessary arguement. I don't think it will be right rating players with less than 10 caps and no tournament experience for the senior national team ahead of those with 40+ caps and tournament experience.

TheGoodJoe:


Can someone confirm if Henry will wear the nine shirt for Anderlecht? That is an interesting development.

TheSuperNerd:
@Chief Icon4s....

From 1980-1989, well I don't think I have the valid in depth knowledge of that era to speak on that generation... but from the much I read, and also saw of certain videos and clips, I wanna ask why you didn't place Emmanuel Okala or Best Ogedengbe as the Goalie for that era.


From 1990-1999, I think you nailed that one.

From 2000-2009, I think it is almost perfect too.... But the omission of Martins is kinda debatable shaa. Yakubu and Martins were two of our finest then.

From 2010-now, I honestly was surprised to see Kelechi Iheanacho and Leon Balogun on your list..... it is true these are two of our best players now and their records for us speaks volumes of excellence for the most parts buuuuttttt.... Kelechi does not merit a best XI place yet.... he is still rising... still has less than 12 caps... lol

Leon also...

Truth is they are candidates for the best XI by the end of this current decade if they keep this up (Kelechi could also feature in the era of 2020-2030)... but for now...

....I will place Ikechukwu Uche instead of Iheanacho... and also go for Oboabona Godfrey instead of Leon ... just for now...

This decade is not even over yet... shaa....

By 2020, we will know our best XI of the 2010-2020 era.... looollll

But from 2010-2017 so far... Kelechi is a no no for me... Let him play more games and show more impact and lead us to maybe a good world cup showing and the Afcon title in 2019... then we will see about his place in a best XI for us. Same goes for Balogun.

Icon4s:


Rufai IMO is Nigeria's second best. So no way I will place Emma Okala ahead of him.

Babangida and Aghahowa do not play the same position. Babangida remains our best winger after the exit of Finidi. Aghahowa should placed in the same comparison basket with Yakubu, Martins and Agali.

I stick to Yakubu because of his achievements but at national level and club. Emerging second highest goal scorer for the national team and 2nd highest Scoring African player in the History of EPL, just behind Didier Drogba.

I have already swapped Iheanacho with Ike Uche. And also agree about Obaobona replacing Balogun.

TheGoodJoe:


If Osimhen breaks through this season as I expect and Onyekuru flourishes in Belgium, then we will have a formidable fire power attack force.

Iheanacho, Osimhen, Kayode and Henry.

I am also expecting a bang from Success. I hope he can put his injuries behind him and Victor Moses is also a dynamite forward.

goldfish80:

You listed Rufai twice that was why I replaced him with Emma Okala with the first team.

Aghawonder started his national team journey as a right winger. Knowing the fun memories he brought at the time, he was our go to guy for a good number of years. Couldn't just leave him out that's the reason I listed him. Tough choice.

Tough choice between Obafemi and Yakubu. Very tough choice.

Icon4s:


I have modified my list.

But Yakubu still tops Martins for me.

Icon4s:


These boys are still young. They still have a lot learn. One or two seasons are not even enough to call them formidable.

TheSuperNerd:
He looks to the future naa.... They are all rising gems. And our national team belongs to them now. It is their time so they have to be given the time to grow as individuals and as a team.

Icon4s:


....hahahaha go back and read his post. He is talking about if they click this season.

Some times I feel that lose to SA was a blessing in disguise for us.

Icon4s:


These boys are still young. They still have a lot learn. One or two seasons are not even enough to call them formidable.

Icon4s:


Peter Rufai made more marks in the national team in the 80s even more than the 90s. His heroics in that era dwarfens that of Okala. Even in the 90s Rufai was still the best though Ike shoromun too was solid.

Aghahowa, though started as a winger at U20,all through his Super Eagles days played as a striker and was never played as a winger. Yakubu and Martins achieved more than him as a striker in that era. And based on statistical indices both for club and country Yakubu tops Martins.

TheSuperNerd:

Looollll.... okay now I get you. Hahahahahahahahaha....


Well, the way I understand it shaa.... he justs hopes they all light up their leagues this season and translate some of that to the national team to begin forging what will be eventually referred to as a formidable attack line...

I saw the post in the light of the near-future and long-term future of the team. What we have now is a promising attack but not formidable.

TheGoodJoe:


Anelka was young before he became known as formidable. Same with Djibril Cisse and Trezeguet.